May 25, 2006
FT. WORTH, Texas - The Flyin' Frogs will be facing some of the toughest competition again this year when the 2006 NCAA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Regionals get underway May 26-27. Twenty members from the TCU track and field team will head south for the Midwest Region, which is hosted by the University of Texas in Austin, Texas.
FROGS IN THE MIDWEST REGION: Twenty members of the TCU track and field team will hit the track at the Midwest Region in Austin, Texas, this weekend. Twelve of the Frogs from the men`s squad are among the region's top 10 in their respective events, with eight listed in the top five. The men's 4x400 relay team stands atop of the Midwest with the best time (3:05.45), while Joe Brown (javelin), Jonathan Jackson (triple jump) and Otis McDaniel (200 meters) are second in the region in their respective events.
From the women's team, nine of the 10 Frog women rank in the top 10 in the Midwest with four among the top five. The Flyin' Frog women holds the second-fastest time (43.93) in the 4x100 meter relay, while Virgil Hodge's best time (22.87) in the 200 meters is fourth-best in the Midwest and Nathandra John stands at fifth in the region with a 52.42 in the 400 meters.
There are 11 members from the men's squad competing in 10 different individual events, while the women have nine battling it out in nine individual races. In addition, Flyin' Frogs will carry the baton in both the men `s and women's 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays.
The following is a list of TCU track and field athletes participating in the Midwest Regional this weekend.
TCU MEN
Lewis Banda - 400m dash
Joe Brown - Javelin
Ché Chavez - 400m dash
Delwayne Delaney - 200m dash
Jonathan Jackson - Triple Jump
Kip Kangogo - 5000m run
Tommy Killen - Discus Throw
Jackson Langat - 800m run
Otis McDaniel - 100m dash, 200m dash
Bradley Reed - 100m dash
Justyn Warner - 100m dash
4x100 relay team
4x400 relay team
TCU WOMEN
Julie Curtis - 400m hurdles
Marquita Davis - 400m dash
Virgil Hodge - 100m dash, 200m dash
Nathandra John - 400m dash
Deborah Jones - 400m dash
Jamee Jones - 200m dash
Candis Kelley - Shot Put
Kishelle Paul - 100m hurdles
Calandra Stewart - 1500m run
4x100 relay team
4x400 relay team
LUCKY 13: TCU is one of 13 ranked teams and one of 10 ranked in the men's field, competing in the Midwest Region. Four of the schools (Kansas State, Nebraska, Texas and Texas A&M) in the region have both their men's and women's squads listed among the top 25.
There are approximately 40 schools competing in the Midwest Region. The following is a list of ranked men's and women's teams competing in the region: Air Force (women-t20th); Baylor (men-t17th); Colorado (men-t20th); Houston (women-t23rd); Iowa (women-t18th); Kansas (men-t15th); Kansas State (men-t20th, women-t23rd); Nebraska (men-t22nd, women-4th); Oral Roberts (men-24th); Texas (men-4th, women-1st); Texas A&M (men-t25th, women-t18th); TCU (men-9th); and UTEP (men-2nd).
A TOP 10 PROGRAM: In the latest Trackwire Top 25 poll, the TCU men earned their highest ranking of the 2006 season receiving 24 points for a spot at ninth. It is also the highest ranking under head coach Darryl Anderson since he took over the Frog track and field program in 2004. The Frog men opened the outdoor season at 13th on Trackwire, and remained ranked in the top 20 every week except one (April 24).
TCU AMONG ELITE IN MWC: TCU has dominated most of the running events in its first year of competition in the Mountain West Conference. Nine of the 21 men's events are held by a TCU sprinter, jumper or thrower - 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 5000 meters, triple jump, javelin, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay; while the TCU women are ranked at the top of the league in eight of the 21 events - 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 1500 meters, 400-meter hurdles, shot put, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay.
In addition, the Frog men occupies six of the seven (including the top four spots) in the 100 meters, four of the top six in the 200 meters, and the top two slots in the 400 meters. On the women's side, the Frogs hold all three spots in the 200 meters, as well as the top two places in both the 100 meters and 400 meters.
FLYIN' FROGS ON THE TRACK: TCU's sprint core (men and women) has been solid and consistent throughout the 2006 season. Heading into this week's regional, three of the 11 Frog men are MWC outdoor champions (Lewis Banda, Jackson Langat and Otis McDaniel), while three of the nine from the women's team were crowned champions (Virgil Hodge, Nathandra John and Kishelle Paul) at the MWC outdoor meet.
In 2006, the TCU men sprinters broke four individual MWC all-time records with Banda accomplishing the feat back-to-back at the conference championships. The Flyin' Frogs also set a new meet record in the men's 4x400 relay at the North Texas Classic in April, while the men's 4x100 and 4x400 quartets have combined for four team titles.
The women's squad attained similar success on the track this year, as the Frogs broke a pair of TCU school records and established new team marks at four different meets. Julie Curtis and Nathandra John each broke their own personal-best and TCU school records as Curtis ran a 59.36 in the 400-meter hurdles, while John posted a 52.31 in the 400 meters dash.
FROGS IN THE FIELD: TCU boasts a young, but talented field contingent this year behind junior Jonathan Jackson, sophomore Joe Brown and freshmen Tommy Killen and Candis Kelley.
Jackson sits atop of the MWC in the men's triple jump with a 53-00.00 (16.16m) leap, which he established at the Seventh Annual TCU Invitational in April. That mark is the best jump in the league, second-best mark in the Midwest Region and eighth in the nation.
Brown opened the 2006 outdoor campaign with a career record-breaking performance at the Dr Pepper Invitational. He tossed a 222-04.75 (67.79m) in the men's javelin, establishing a new personal-best and TCU school record. His mark is the best in the league and ranks second in the Midwest this year.
Freshmen sensations Killen and Kelley each have made their career marks in just their first year competing for TCU. Killen recorded a 189-11.50 (57.90m) toss in the men's discus throw at the Flyin' Frogs home meet in April, which sits second in the league and fifth in Midwest Region.
Kelley, the lone female from TCU's field program to compete in regional this week, threw 50-06.25 (15.40m) at the MWC Outdoor Track Championships two weeks ago. That mark is the best in the league and eighth in the Midwest Regional.
MWC OUTDOOR CHAMPIONS: The Flyin' Frogs combined for 14 gold medals at the 2006 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by BYU in Provo, Utah, on May 10-13.
The TCU men had five individual champions and notched one team gold, with sophomore Otis McDaniel named the MWC Outstanding Male Performer at the league meet. McDaniel was crowned the conference individual champion in the 100 meters and 200 meters. He was also part of the winning 4x100 meter relay squad that ran a season-best time of 39.52.
The women's squad was stellar in their own right as they brought home six individual gold medals, as well as both the 4x100 and 4x400 team titles. The Frog women started off the day with consecutive winning performances from the 4x100 squad, Calandra Stewart (1500m), Kishelle Paul (100m hurdles) and Nathandra John (400m).
The 4x100 foursome set a new MWC meet record with a time of 44.23, and the 4x400 quartet capped off the meet with a new conference mark of 3:37.31.
First-place finishers for the TCU women also included Virgil Hodge (100 meters, 200 meters), Julie Curtis in the 400-meter hurdles (59.40) and freshman Candis Kelley, who tossed a personal-best 50-06.25 (15.40m) to win the women's shot put in both the conference indoor and outdoor meets this season.
AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH: Two weeks ago, TCU entered the final day of the MWC Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the bottom of both the men's and women's team standings, but quickly climbed their way into contention. Prior to Saturday's finals, the Frog men had 12 points with the TCU women tallied five.
After it was all said and done, the Frog men and women both secured a third-place finish in their respective divisions. The men's team picked up an additional 131 points for a total of 143, while the women collected 139 on the day to finish with 144 points.
TCU set six new conference meet records as well as a new TCU school record en route to bringing home 14 gold medals - 11 individuals and three team.
LAST TIME AT MIKE A. MYERS STADIUM: TCU is no stranger to the track at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. The Frogs competed in the 79th edition of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in April, where TCU had 11 athletes post NCAA regional qualifying marks. The Frogs brought home two individual medals (Jonathan Jackson - gold in men's triple jump and Cassie Hostick - silver in women's 1500 meters), as well as a team medal (silver) by the men's 4x100 meter relay squad.
